Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Exceptional

This is a magical write, brilliantly written, perfect metre, fantastic rhymes and alliteration. This poem has it all. I have read some wonderful poems for this contest and I thought many were winners but you have taken the prize for me here Steve. This is one of the best poems I have read in a long time. A skilful write from the ink of a talented poet. A well deserved six, I hope you win, love Dolly x x x

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 31-Oct-2023

Hi, Dolly. Thanks for this wonderful review and the good wishes. However, this poem is not entered in the current contest, it is a revived post from eight years ago! I note that it didn't win a prize then, so I hope it was beaten by something spectacular.
Halloween was never celebrated here when I was growing up, but like many other American traditions it has been spread in recent years by exposure to social media and American movies and TV shows with a generous push from the commercial gods. What I tried to do in this poem was look at it a bit more literally from the other side of the fence.

Steve

reply by Dolly'sPoems on 31-Oct-2023

I realised that after I posted my review, in fact I entered the contest myself but did not win it. It was good to revive it again. A magical post x

reply by Dolly'sPoems on 31-Oct-2023

I realised that after I posted my review, in fact I entered the contest myself but did not win it. It was good to revive it again. A magical post x

Comment from Videl Sky

Exceptional

I don't usually write reviews, but this was one of the best poems I've read in a while. I was speechless afterwards and stared at my computer screen for a few minutes. I saw that you have poetry books on Amazon, and I think I will go buy them now.
Amazing job,
Videl

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2023

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reply by the author on 31-Oct-2023

Videl, many thanks for the great review and the very kind words about this poem from some years ago.

Of course I would appreciate it if you were able to purchase my books. Like most books of poetry they don't sell well and in fact I haven't yet broken through the threshold set by Amazon to actually receive any royalties, so every copy sold nudges my total a little closer to the moment when I may actually get some financial reward!

So thanks for breaking your habit and putting pen to paper to express your appreciation for this piece.

Steve

Comment from rhymelord

Exceptional

Dear Steve,
A stroke of brilliance to rival Poe at his best. The multi rhyming lines drag one through the poem with graphic effect. A winner, or I am a Dutchman. By the way, I am finding it hard to be nice after that World Cup final....Grrrrrrr!
Regards
Reg

 Comment Written 04-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 06-Nov-2015

Poor old Poe - he could only manage a third place in a FS contest - no wonder he always looked so gloomy! Sorry, don't know how to say that in Dutch!

It's alright, I won't mention the rugby, if you don't mention the cricket!

Steve

Comment from humpwhistle

Exceptional

Wow! Steve, this is a piece I will dissect at another time. And probably more than one. But right now, I'm too dizzy. I love this. Of course we all join that ghostly thread. But I really admire you knack for language and phrase.

And the hint-not the promise-of salvation (or something) at the end.

I'm going to bookmark this one, Steve. I think there are some nuggets I overlooked.

Best of luck.

Peace, Lee

 Comment Written 03-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 06-Nov-2015

Thanks for the great review and the six stars. Your comment gave me an insight into how some had taken this to be something like departed souls waiting at the Pearly Gates, when actually what I intended was souls getting excited about their Halloween chance to return to the world of the living, if only for one day...

Third place is my lot again...

Steve

Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose

Excellent

Hello :)

A very unique and interesting poem with solid rhyme and meter. Great use of alliteration. Nice repeating lines that tide all of the stanzas together. Good job!
Gypsy

 Comment Written 03-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Nov-2015

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Steve

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

Your words have a great natural flow. I like how you repeat that first line until the last verse. It keeps the verses tied together. Great use of alliteration and descriptive words. I like artwork, but this is great even without any.

I see no changes. Best wishes in the contest.

 Comment Written 02-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Nov-2015

Thanks for the kind words.

Steve

Comment from Cumbrianlass

Exceptional

Er, wow.

Now then. 'Wow' doesn't cut it with the review requirements on this site, so I have to say something else about this Halloween offering of yours.

Um, let me see.

Absolutely bloody amazing. Phenomenal. Clever. Creative. If this doesn't win I'll eat my curtains. Well, maybe not my curtains.

Wow. Just... wow.

There. That should do it.

 Comment Written 02-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Nov-2015

Eat the curtains, huh?

I'm told the lacy ones are nicely light and crispy, but heavy velvet drapes are stodgy - you may want ketchup with those...

Thanks for the enthusiastic review which brightened my day, but I haven't got near winning anything lately.

Steve

Comment from Jackarrie

Excellent

Hi Steve
I really like this poem you have written for the halloween contest. It was presented in a very easy way to read,
No need for any horrific images the poem speaks for itself. I like the title and how it is repeated in your well written poem.

Good luck in the contest Mary

 Comment Written 02-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Nov-2015

Thanks, Mary - glad you enjoyed.

Steve

Comment from Joan E.

Excellent

I enjoyed your rhymes and all your examples of the characters who come to the "gossamer gate"--its repeat is effective as well. The "fabric is torn" metaphor is quite compelling. (By the way, I liked your parallel, profile picture too.) Best wishes in the contest and happy day-after! -Joan

 Comment Written 01-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Nov-2015

Thanks, Joan - glsd you enjoyed.

Halloween is not really a tradition here, although retailers have pushed it onto us a bit lately.

Steve

reply by Joan E. on 03-Nov-2015

As retailers do everywhere! Enjoy your springtime- Joan

Comment from Just2Write

Excellent

Very cool, Steve. This is an excellent mix of rhyme scheme and poetry crafting.
It must have taken awhile to get all the lines to align, and for the pattern of this poem to come together. In stanza one - line 13 -
the senseless, relentless;

The repeating internal rhyme is fine, but I was expecting a second line to rhyme with it somewhere, (a couplet) as you have in the other stanzas

I liked your Repeating line and the variation of it on the last stanza.

Excellent work here, Steve. This should do well.
Rose.

 Comment Written 01-Nov-2015

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reply by the author on 03-Nov-2015

Thanks, Rose.

I was actually tinkering with more orthodox free verse, but it just wouldn't come. Once I ent with full-on rhyming, it floed very quickly...

Steve